What Size Solo Stove Should I Buy?

This guide will tell you exactly what size Solo Stove you should buy to meet your smokeless fire needs. If you don’t want to read the details. You should buy the Bonfire Solo Stove, it’s the best all around. Below are some quick details about the stoves, below that are the details of each stove.

My suggestion of the Bonfire is backed up by my review of the Bonfire Solo Stove, and use of it side by side with the other Solo Stove sizes.

If you are looking for the difference between version 1 and version 2 of the Solo Stove, be sure to check out our post explaining the difference between Solo Stove V1 and V2.

Ranger (Smallest)

The Ranger is a great size for an ultra-portable quick fire that is perfect for tailgating, small groups, and short cooldown times. If you will be moving the Solo Stove every time you use it, and don’t need a large fire for multiple people, the Ranger is right for you. It’s low cost and a large variety of accessories make it my number-one pick for a portable smokeless fire pit. A few downsides to the Ranger. First, its small opening makes it difficult to load larger pieces of wood. Second, the smaller volume of the fire pit means the wood burns out much faster, and restocking is more frequent. This can be nice when you are waiting for the fire pit to cool down for transport. In our testing, loading up The Ranger to a reasonable level with wood will burn for about 30 min. You can expect at least another 30 min for it to cool down.

Bonfire (Medium)

The Bonfire offers portability with a larger fire size. I would choose the Bonfire if I were looking for a fire pit that was portable enough to move around my yard and take with me on occasion for tailgating, or camping. Its increase in size over the Ranger makes it easier to load in new wood without having to cut down sticks to a short size. The increased size of the Bonfire makes it a little more difficult to carry, but the larger fire size with the ability to use larger logs make it a great option.

Yukon (Largest)

The Yukon is the biggest of the three fire pits offered by Solo Stove. It’s best suited for a permanent location in a backyard. It’s large, heavy, and cumbersome to move. With that being said, it is portable, I like to store mine in the garage out of the elements so I do carry it on occasion. I like the large, long-lasting fires the Yukon can deliver. The larger opening allows for larger logs and more of them for an even bigger and warmer fire. With the Yukon loaded with wood, a fire will last around an hour, keep in mind that larger and bigger fires mean that there is an extended cool-down time before you can empty the ash pan or move the fire pit.

Size, Capacity, Weight, and Warmth

	Ranger $200	Bonfire $230	Yukon $430
Diameter	15 in | 38 cm	19.5 in | 49.5 cm [+4.5 in | 11.5 cm]	27 in | 68.5 cm [+7.5 in | 19 cm]
Height	12.5 in | 32 cm	14 in | 35.5 cm	17 in | 43 cm
Weight	15 lbs | 6.8 kg	23.3 lbs | 10.6 kg	41.6 lbs | 18.9 kg
Estimated Burn Time	30 min	45 min	60 min
Estimated Cool/Burn Down	30 min	60 min	75 min
Wood Capacity	4 or 5 small logs	5 or 6 small to medium logs	6+ large logs
Seating Capacity	2-3 People	3-4 People	5-6 People

Fire Pit Considerations

Portability

Shopping for a smokeless fire pit and trying to determine the size, it’s important to take into consideration how portable it will be. While most smokeless fire pits are portable some are easier to move than others. Some portable fire pits have handles or accessories that make it easier to pick up than a larger fire pit. Try to determine if you will be leaving your fire pit in one spot, or transporting it when making the decision on what size to purchase.

Fire Size

When determining what size fire pit to purchase keep in mind that smaller more portable fire pits will not be able to hold as much wood and have a smaller flame and heat output. If your number one concern is a large fire that many people can gather around go with a bigger size like the Yukon. if you’re looking for a more intimate small flame consider going with a smaller more portable fire pit like the Ranger or Bonfire.

Wood Consumption

The Ranger uses the least amount of wood, but the fires are smaller and put off less heat. The Bonfire and Yukon use more wood, have a larger flame, and provide more heat but are harder to move. With a bundle of firewood from my local grocery store costing about $7, that will last me a little under an hour. If you frequently have fires and are concerned about the cost of the wood you will be burning, consider buying wood in bulk or going with a smaller fire pit.

Wood Size

The Bonfire and Yukon can easily accommodate using store-bought firewood. However, with the smaller opening in the Ranger, the angle of the wood may make it difficult to use wood without cutting it down. It’s also worth pointing out that if you allow the wood to extend above the rim of the Solo Stove, you are likely to get more smoke from the “smokeless” fire.

Warmth and Heat

The size of a fire pit will affect the warmth put off by the fire. This is typically affected by the amount of wood that can be burned. a larger fire pit will hold more wood and produce more heat. If your primary goal is to use the fire pit for warmth consider going with a larger option, or check out the heat deflector to direct the heat outward instead of upward.

Cool Down Period

If you plan to move your fire pit frequently after a fire keep in mind that a larger fire pit with a bigger fire will take longer to burn down and for the fire pit to cool down before you can empty the ash pan and move the fire pit. For tailgating a small fire pit is perfect because the fuel burns quickly and the fire pit metal cools off fast so you can pack it away and be on your way.

Common Features

All of the fire pits are designed to be smokeless. This means they have a double wall that burns off the smoke as the air heats up reducing the smoke. This is the main selling point for Solo Stove fire pits.

All of the fire pits include a stand, ashpan, ashpan cover, and top ring.

All of the fire pits are made from 304 stainless steel and only differ in size.

All of the fire pits offer free standard shipping and returns as well as a lifetime warranty from manufactured defects.

All of the fire pits are compatible with the following accessories 

• Fire Shield
• Fire pit Surround
• Fire Pit Surround Shelter
• The Stand
• Shelter or cover
• Lid
• Heat deflector  and carrying bag
• Pellet adapter 
• Additionally, you can use the solo stove sticks and tools accessories the handle

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Is the Yukon Fire Pit too Big?

Answer: The Yukon is not too big for home use.   It can be too big for a smaller person to move around by themselves. 

Question: Are Solo Stoves Stackable?

Answer: Yes, although not perfect the Ranger will fit inside the Bonfire, and the Bonfire will fit inside the Yukon. With that being said, the top rings don’t stack perfectly. If you are looking at purchasing multiple Solo Stoves you can stack them inside each other to save some room.

Question: Can you use a Solo Stove on a deck?

Answer: Yes, with the new version of the Solo Stove stand you can use the Solo Stove on a deck. Solo Stove advises not to use on heat-sensitive surfaces, so you may be better off placing cement pavers on top of the deck first.

Question: Can you use a Solo Stove on a wooden deck?

Answer: Yes, using the Solo Stove with the stand is enough to elevate the fire and allow airflow to use on a wooden deck. Temperatures do get hot below the fire, do not leave the fire unattended. Solo Stove advises not to use on heat-sensitive surfaces, so you may be better off placing cement pavers on top of the deck first.

Question: Can you use a Solo Stove on Trex deck?

Answer: Yes, however, Solo Stove advises not to use on heat-sensitive surfaces, so you may be better off placing cement pavers on top of the deck first.

Question: Can you use a Solo Stove under a covered patio?

Answer: Yes, as long as there is enough height and airflow you can use a Solo Stove under a covered patio. Be cautious about smoke staining, just because it’s advertised as a smokeless fire, there still is smoke associated with starting the fire up.

Question: Can you leave a Solo Stove outside?

Answer: Yes, you can leave a Solo Stove outside. Just like any metal, even stainless steel it can show signs of wear and even rust over time. Solo Stove offers covers to help prolong the look of your fire pit.

Question: Can you use a Solo Stove Indoors or in a Garage?

Answer: No, just because it is a smokeless fire pit it can not be used indoors or in a garage.

Question: Can you put a Solo Stove on the grass?

Answer: Yes, but there is a good chance your grass will be damaged where the fire pit was used.

Question: Can you leave a Solo Stove in the rain?

Answer: Yes, however, it might affect the overall look over time

Question: Can you use a Solo Stove on an outdoor rug or carpet?

Answer: No, most outdoor rugs and carpet will melt, be damaged, or catch fire if used under the Solo Stove.

Question: What should you put under your Solo Stove

Answer: It is best to use your Solo Stove with a concrete base, rock, or dirt.

Question: Should you elevate your Solo Stove?

Answer: You are not required to elevate a Solo Stove for use. However, many people elevate their Solo Stoves to prevent damage to items underneath.

Question: How do you extinguish a Solo Stove fire?

Answer: The best option is to allow the fire to completely burn out. Another option is to try to suffocate the fire with a lid and prevent oxygen from getting to it. Lastly, you can remove the burning logs and extinguish them outside the Solo Stove.

Question: Can you put out a Solo Stove fire with water?

Answer: No, if you need to quickly extinguish a Solo Stove fire, the best way it to use fire tongs to remove the logs and extinguish them outside the fire pit.

Question: Can you use a Duraflame log in a Solo Stove?

Answer: Yes, you can use DuraFlame logs in a Solo Stove

Question: Can you burn Pellets in a Solo Stove?

Answer: Yes, but you are required to purchase a Fire Pit Pellet Adapter from Solo Stove.

Question: Can you burn leaves in a Solo Stove?

Answer: Yes, you can burn dry leaves in your Solo Stove. They act as greater kindling to get a fire started, but the flame will not last long without additional wood to keep the fire going.

Questions: Can you use Charcoal or Coal with a Solo Stove?

Answer: Yes, you can use Charcol or Coal in a Solo Stove. These are great options if you are planning to cook with your Solo Stove.

Question: Can you roast marshmallows on a Solo Stove?

Answer: Yes, this is one of the best reasons for purchasing a Solo Stove. Caution, if you have little kids they love to get marshmallows on the Solo Stove which can be a bit messy to clean up.

Final Thoughts

Solo Stove makes excellent fire pits and accessories they have been one of the innovators in the industry. They also have other great options for cooking and warmth to accessorize the ambiance of your backyard and fire pit. I have been using a Solo Stove for years and continued to prefer it over a gas fire.  Solo Stove offers the smokeless features of a gas stove with the warmth and feel of a campfire.

I hope this content helps you make the decision on what size Solo Stove to purchase. If you have found it helpful please use one of the links in this article to help support the website and content we produce.